There is no doubt about it, sleep apnea can be dangerous.  In fact, there have been a lot of reports lately on the news about people falling asleep while driving which is causing numerous accidents.  When a person is sleep deprived, they do not receive oxygen their body needs to rejuvenate.  Lack of sleep puts a strain on the cardiovascular system.  Left untreated, sleep apnea increases risk of heart attack and stroke.

If you are tired when you first awaken in the mornings, experience sleeplessness and even breathlessness, or you snore so loudly that you wake yourself up in the middle of the night gasping for air, you need to be screened for what sleep apnea treatment is best for you. These can be signs of sleep apnea.  It is estimated that 20 million Americans cannot maintain regular breathing during sleep and need sleep apnea treatment.

There are many dental and medical conditions that can lead to snoring like overweight, a small retruded jaw, sedatives, allergies, alcohol before retiring or airway obstruction.  So, what kinds of sleep apnea treatments are available?  Here are the 3 choices:

1.)  Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) consists of an air compressor and mask which delivers pressurized air through the nose while sleeping.  The biggest hurdle for using this method is compliance.  Wearing the mask can be offensive as well as claustrophobic.

2.)  Surgery - Known as UPPP surgery, this invasive method of treatment is performed only in cases of severe obstructive apnea when excessive tissue reduces the airway space.

3.)  Airway Oral Appliance therapy is the most conservative means of sleep apnea treatment and is easily accepted by patients.  This consists of a custom appliance that fits over the teeth and keeps the airway open.

If you are suffering from sleep apnea, find out about the airway oral appliance therapy for your sleep apnea treatment.  It is inexpensive, conservative and successful.  The right sleep apnea treatment makes all the difference in a good night’s sleep!